Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) celebrated its 33rd Foundation Day on November 19, 2018. Kick-starting the celebrations, Prof. Nageshwar Rao, Vice Chancellor IGNOU paid floral tribute at the statute of Late PM Smt. Indira Gandhi situated at the main gate of the IGNOU headquarter in Maidan Garhi.
The Chief Guest on the occasion was Former Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ram G. Takwale. He delivered lecture on “Nayee Taleem @ Digital India” i.e., New Education in Digital India. Smt. G. Pramila Reddy, wife of founding vice chancellor Prof. G Ram Reddy was the distinguished guest at the occasion.
To mark the occasion, an exhibition showcasing University’s journey over the years highlighting the achievements was organized at the Baba Saheb Ambedkar convention center. The Vice Chancellor along with the chief guest and the distinguished guest inaugurated the exhibition. A film about IGNOU “The Torch Bearer of Distance Education” was also shown highlighting the university’s journey since the inception and how it has evolved into a pioneer of Open Education institution.
Prof. B.B. Khanna, chairman of the organizing committee of the function welcoming the dignitaries at the dais highlighted the mega university’s achievements over the years. He reminisced how the university from small beginning has grown. The growth of the university from 4000 students with 2 Diploma programmes to 3.2 million learners with options of 227 programmes having 21 schools of study and 67 Regional Centers across the length & breadth of the country has been unmatched by any educational institution, he said.
Prof. Ram G. Takwale in his lecture on the topic drew upon Gandhi ji’s approach on working with hands and knowledge attainment for not mere earning of degree but applying that knowledge for betterment of society linking to social development. He complimented the university on the tremendous growth over the years sticking to its goal of reaching the unreached for higher Gross Enrollment Ratio in higher education. He said that Digital India warrants change and reconstruction of education model to suit the changing requirements of the society emphasizing the need for “Nayee Taleem” (new education). Citing the Education Commission Report of 1966 titled “Education and National Development”, he said that western model of education did not deliver for a country like India and educationist Shri J.P. Naik, a follower of Gandhi and member secretary of the commission recommended Nayee Taleem principles which had Education of Our People of India, the social development as the focus. However the model did not work owing to non existence of developmental model of Gandhian views & approaches and wrong set of actors at the helm as administrators and teachers thus India continued with western model, he informed.
Prof. Ram G. Takwale in his lecture on the topic drew upon Gandhi ji’s approach on working with hands and knowledge attainment for not mere earning of degree but applying that knowledge for betterment of society linking to social development. He complimented the university on the tremendous growth over the years sticking to its goal of reaching the unreached for higher Gross Enrollment Ratio in higher education. He said that Digital India warrants change and reconstruction of education model to suit the changing requirements of the society emphasizing the need for “Nayee Taleem” (new education). Citing the Education Commission Report of 1966 titled “Education and National Development”, he said that western model of education did not deliver for a country like India and educationist Shri J.P. Naik, a follower of Gandhi and member secretary of the commission recommended Nayee Taleem principles which had Education of Our People of India, the social development as the focus. However the model did not work owing to non existence of developmental model of Gandhian views & approaches and wrong set of actors at the helm as administrators and teachers thus India continued with western model, he informed.
Prof. Ram G. Takwale recommended that in this age of Mobile Technology and Artificial Intelligence and other sweeping technological changes which has ushered the 4th Industrial Revolution, the Nayee Taleem model of education is very relevant. With jobs going to robots in this digital era, “Nayee Taleem” the Gandhian education model could help as machines destroy humanistic abilities and has dehumanizing aspect. The pedagogy of social reconstruction has to take this into cognizance for smooth transitioning, he averred.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nageshwar Rao in his presidential speech lauded IGNOU’s role as democratizing the education and fulfilling its social responsibility of making higher education accessible to all. He emphasized that he takes pride in saying that university is truly inclusive providing education to disadvantaged section of the society. He thanked Prof. Ram G. Talwale and Smt. G. Pramilla for taking time out and making for the function, acceding to the university’s request. He said that foundation day celebration could not have been complete without the presence and blessing of our senior members of IGNOU family. He also informed that university is striving to digitalize all processes from admission to placement bringing about digital transformation. He said that any institution or organization could survive and thrive if it embraces change and the change agents will have to be us.
The Student Innovation Award 2018, instituted by IGNOU’s National Centre for Innovation in Distance Education (NCIDE) were also distributed to the winners out of 41 entries received.
Ms. Vidya Sonal, Registrar IGNOU proposed vote of thanks and expressed her gratitude to the chief guest, Prof. Ram G. Takwale, Smt G. Pramila Reddy and the extended IGNOU family.
The proceedings of the function were available to all the Regional Centres through live webcast.
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